Watch Buddy win at Happy Valley

Fresh from a Group 3 victory at the weekend, Ricky Yiu is hoping to extend his fine recent form at Happy Valley when he sends an improving galloper to the city circuit on Wednesday.

Yiu, whose Sha Tin double included success in the Group 3 Centenary Vase (1800m) with Nimble Nimbus, has had winners at the past four Valley meetings and will put a saddle on six runners as he attempts to return to the winner’s enclosure.

Watch Buddy has been improving fast of late and is set to run in the second section of the Class Three Victoria Park Handicap (1200m).

The four-year-old has won three of his past five races since switching to the Valley after four runs at Sha Tin and, while he has been raised six points for his latest win and is set to carry more weight, Yiu is confident the son of Rothesay can again perform well.

“He’s a very honest horse and maybe he’s a specialist at the Valley, but I hope he can run well again,” Yiu said. “He won well last time and I wouldn’t worry about the weight too much – he’s very uncomplicated.”

While Watch Buddy has been hugely consistent of late, Yiu’s other runners would need to bounce back to form to make an impact at the Valley.

Lucky Eight competes in the Class Three Hong Kong Park Handicap (1650m), with Yiu attempting to stretch the three-time 1200m winner out to this trip for only the second time after he faded to finish seventh over course and distance on his last start.

Yiu’s Joyful Friendship has also been tried over a variety of distances during his eight-race Hong Kong career and drops back to 1200m for section two of the Class Four Kowloon Park Handicap (1200m).

Having finished closer than four lengths behind the winner only once in his eight starts, it would appear he has his work cut out.

Reach Goal’s best performances over the past couple of years have come over 1800m or further so stepping back to 1650m in the Class Four Morse Park Handicap may not provide his optimum conditions, while he has been off the track since October after bleeding from both nostrils following his last race.

Veteran Precise Express provided Yiu with one of his 28 winners this season when successful over the Valley 1800m in October and the eight-year-old steps up to 2200m for the first time in the Class Four Fa Hui Park Handicap.

Brilliant Pioneer lines up in section one of the Class Five Shan Kwong Road Park Handicap (1650m). The five-year-old joined Yiu in the summer and showed promise in his first couple of starts but he has lost his way of late and was beaten nearly 17 lengths last time.

The 66-year-old conditioner was forced to watch on from the sidelines as Helios Express won the first leg of the four-year-old series at Sha Tin on Sunday but a fine morning workout from Voyage Bubble has left him contemplating the galloper’s future.

“He galloped (on Sunday) morning and I’m very happy with him,” Yiu said of the 2023 Classic Mile and Hong Kong Derby winner.

“He’s a very exciting horse and I’m seeing the owner this week to decide [where to go next]. They are usually travelling with business, so we’ll decide sometime next week. He’ll run in a local race first before we decide whether to go abroad.” – South China Morning Post

Race-by-Race Previews

Race 1: Regency Happy Star has had no luck from wide draws recently and could run a cheeky race coming into barrier 3 with Purton taking over the reins. Stormtrouper drops down in grade and start following. United Endeavors last run was better than it reads and do not dismiss. Nice Birdie backing up quickly from last week, can run well. Young Horizon has a chance based on past form in this class of race and can always surprise with the right run.

Race 2: Sharpen Bright will be suited by the rise after his best run yet over 2000m and should receive all the favours from gate 2. Wonder Years caught the eye last start when running home well. Track and distance specialist who will run well. Serangoon placed last start and looks a chance to run well again. Romantic Fantasy looks a solid good chance based on last start and he should enjoy extra ground. Happy Hero looks a chance on the light weight and from a low gate in barrier 3.

Race 3: Superb Move drops down in grade and start following. He is hard to ignore from barrier 1 and has been run well at the bottom of Class 4 prior to the class drop. Medic Elite nice horse who is a model of consistency and is always a chance. Daily Trophy backing up quickly from Sunday, can run well from gate 4. Foxhunter Way never far away from the winner and could sneak a place. Barrier 3 should ensure all favours. Happy Jai Jai looks a chance if you go on previous consistent form. Barrier 12 is awkward, but he has a chance on form.

Race 4: Beauty Infinity nice 4YO who gets his chance to bounce back for a win here. Had plenty of excuses in the run last start. Purton takes over from Atzeni and hopefully he can map him closer to the speed than last start. Divine Era change of trainer recently and watch betting. No trial to go off but he should run a race from barrier 1. Po On Way ran the second fastest sectional time last start when checking in a better seventh than it reads. Travel Golf will win in this grade very soon. Brave Witness drawn well and should gain a nice run in transit.

Race 5: Kasa Papa turned in a nice effort last run when finishing strongly into fourth. Appears well placed here from barrier 2 and gives the impression a win is near. Win Win Fighter last start winner who retains good form and can run well again, especially given he has come up with gate 1. Dragon Star a fast beginner who can run well if he finds an easy lead. Will give a sight as usual. Lovero best run to date was last start and appears to be improving. Sturdy Ruby never far away from the winner and could sneak a place. Fitter now second-up and Purton takes the reins.

Race 6: Wide open race. Party Warrior eased early before going on to make late ground. If the rider can make use of barrier 1 early, he is more than capable of winning this. Super Eagle nice horse who is a model of consistency and looks a chance with luck from barrier 10. Dream Pursuer last start winner who remains in the same grade and should run well again. Back to 1200m is the slight query however. See U Again had genuine excuses last start when caught wide. Go on previous good form. Gorgeous Vitality can bounce back a winner anytime in this class but 1000m seems to be his best trip.

Race 7: Tourbillon Prince will be trying to lead all the way. The speed map appears to suit him here and he gets his chance provided good health as he has been pulling up as a roarer after some starts. Eighteen Palms should be highly suited by the drop back in distance. Aestheticism has shown ability and gets his chance to win here as he switches to the city circuit from Sha Tin. Rocket Spade goes well first-up from a break and should be respected. All Beauty was eased early before catching the eye late, another similar run is likely from the wide draw.

Race 8: Watch Buddy last start winner who remains in the same grade and gets favours in his corner to repeat the dose. Healthy Healthy go on the win two starts ago and give a chance here after he was used up early last start. Glorious Journey has trialled well for debut and should be rated a chance, but watch the betting. Street Conqueror eased early before going on to make late ground, but he can map closer to the speed from a lower draw. Leedox having first start and watch the betting odds. Purton rides, so likely favoured.

Race 9: Raging Blizzard narrowly beaten last start and goes close again here. He gets another chance to prove himself but it won’t be easy from the wide gate. Sing Dragon has trialled well for debut and should be rated a chance first-up. He should map on-pace from his low gate. Sugar Sugar looks overdue for a win and enters this race in good form. Heroic Master nice horse who is a model of consistency and looks a chance if he handles the rise in distance. Bon’s A Pearla had vet excuses last start and forget the run. Go on previous good form.